TAREE City will rush centre Callum Wesley into the side to meet Old Bar in the Group Three Rugby League clash at the Jack Neal Oval on Saturday. Wesley, a tall, long striding centre, agreed to terms with the Bulls just before the start of the season and has been cleared for this week. A Taree Red Rovers junior, Wesley also played in the Newcastle Knights junior system. Taree coach Todd Bridge said Wesley will give his side strike power out wide. "He's a good player and with Cal, Jake Lauder and Nayden Moriarty we have players on the edge who can score tries,'' Bridge said. Dean Mills returns to the side after missing the opening round because of cricket commitments. Mills will play five-eighth, with Toby De Stefano the halfback. Bridge will sit the match out. The Bulls will be without front rower Josh Northam for more than a month with a broken foot. Will Clarke is also unavailable this week. "We get Matt Taupe back this week and he will replace Josh,'' Bridge said. "Logan Wallis played in the centres last week but he'll move into the forwards.'' The Bulls lost 32-22 to Wauchope in the opening round and Bridge is confident the side will benefit from the outing. He targeted online and edge defence as areas where Taree needs to improve, although he said having a couple of players out of their usual positions contributed the problems. While it's only the early days, Bridge said this is a vital match for both sides, pointing out that in a relatively short season, it's best to get points on the board. "You don't want to start with two losses,'' he said.

Callum Wesley to boost Taree's backline stocks

Prop Matt Taupe returns to the Taree City side for Saturday's clash against Old Bar.

TAREE City will rush centre Callum Wesley into the side to meet Old Bar in the Group Three Rugby League clash at the Jack Neal Oval on Saturday.

Wesley, a tall, long striding centre, agreed to terms with the Bulls just before the start of the season and has been cleared for this week. A Taree Red Rovers junior, Wesley also played in the Newcastle Knights junior system.

Taree coach Todd Bridge said Wesley will give his side strike power out wide.

"He's a good player and with Cal, Jake Lauder and Nayden Moriarty we have players on the edge who can score tries,'' Bridge said.

Callum Wesley, pictured playing for Wingham under 18s, will start in the centres for Taree City against Old Bar.

Dean Mills returns to the side after missing the opening round because of cricket commitments. Mills will play five-eighth, with Toby De Stefano the halfback. Bridge will sit the match out.

The Bulls will be without front rower Josh Northam for more than a month with a broken foot. Will Clarke is also unavailable this week.

"We get Matt Taupe back this week and he will replace Josh,'' Bridge said.

"Logan Wallis played in the centres last week but he'll move into the forwards.''

The Bulls lost 32-22 to Wauchope in the opening round and Bridge is confident the side will benefit from the outing. He targeted online and edge defence as areas where Taree needs to improve, although he said having a couple of players out of their usual positions contributed the problems.

While it's only the early days, Bridge said this is a vital match for both sides, pointing out that in a relatively short season, it's best to get points on the board.